Combination traveling block and swivel connection



Oct. 9, 1951 B. C. CHRISTENSEN COMBINATION TRAVELING BLOCK AND SWIVELCONNECTION Filed July 51 1946 36 37 35 glay. 4?.

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2/ Zhwentor Byron C (fir/'5 fame/L Gttomeg Patented Oct. 9, 1951 OFFICECOMBINATION TRAVELING BLOCK AND SWIVEL CONNECTION Byron C. Christensen,Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,312

This invention relates to traveling blocks and particularly to acombination traveling block and swivel connection adapted for use in thetackle of a rotary drilling rig or the like for handling strings ofdrill pipe, casing and similar heavy loads.

The ordinary traveling block and its connection with the bail of aswivel head or elevator is of considerable combined length so that itlimits the ultimate height that the drill pipe or other load can beraised within the derrick of a drilling rig without dan er of collidingthe traveling block with the crown pulley of the derrick. It is oftendesirable to obtain a maximum lift but with the high speed operation ofthe drawworks it is difficult for the driller to accurately judge theposition of the traveling block as it approaches the crown block of thederrick. Consequently, to-

8 Claims. (C1. 25 4,-195) I single piece having a where the height ofthe derrick must be kept with- V in the length limits that can betransported over public highways.

Therefore, the principal objects of the present invention are to provide'a combined traveling block and swivel connection that is characterizedby its extremely short, compact construction; to provide a substantiallysturdy traveling block unit of small size and capable of handling heavyloads; to provide a traveling block with shock absorbing means locatedintermediate the block sheaves; to provide an improved mounting of thesheaves in the body of a traveling block structure; to provide atraveling block structure having a fewer number of parts and connectionsto be made when the block is assembled in a tackle mechanism; and toprovide a sheave arrangement that assures a centralized draft throughthe axis of the traveling block.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the" invention, I haveprovided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustratedin the accompanying drawing wherein:

i :Fig. 1 is a side elevational new of my. improved traveling block andswivel connection member and showing a part of the block body brokenaway and in section to better illustrate the swivel bushingand locktherefor.

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

f 3 is a cross section on the line 3+3 of Fig. 2.-

: Refe'rring more in detail to the drawing:

designates a (combined traveling block and swivel connection constructedin accordance with the present invention and which includes-atravelingblockbody; 2.: The body 2 is constructed ina 2v streamlinedshape and a substantially smooth exterior to avoid possibility of theblock hanging up on a part of the derrick of substantiallysemi-cylindrical shape with the axis extending horizontally of thelongitudinal axis of the body of the block anda lower portion 4 havingconverging sides 5 and 6 extending downwardly from the rounding top I.The other sides 8 and 9 are preferably rounded from the lower end of theblock to the ends of the semi-cylindrical portion 3 as best shown inFig. 2. Formed within the body of the block coaxially with thelongitudinal axis thereof is a sleeve-like partition Ill forming acentral compartment H opening through aboss l2 at thetop of the block(Fig. 1)v and terminating within the lower end of the block in. anannular bearing seat 13 encircling an opening 14 in which isrotatablymounted a swivel bushing l5 having an annular flange l6supported upon an anti-friction bearing I! carried on the seat, l3. Theupper end of. the bushing and the upper face of the flange l6 provide asup: port for one end [8 of a coil spring I9 later described. Theopposite end of the bushingprojects through the opening l4 and isencircled with an oil sealing ring 20. for retaining the lubricant forthe. bearing ll.v Thebushing is provided with an axial opening2|,preferably of polygonal shaped cross section to slidably andnon-rotatably mount a stem 22 of a connecting member 23 which in theillustrated instance is shown as being a safety hook although the stemmay be provided with a clevis or other connecting device withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The polygonal-shaped portion of the stem ter-' minates substantiallymidway of the block in a cylindrical extension'24 having threads 25 formounting an adjusting nut 26 on the stem'and providing a stop face 21adapted to engage a stop face 28 on the swivel bushing when the springI9 is compressed under load. The nut 26 includes a sleeve-like body ofsubstantial length having a threaded bore 29 to receive the threaded endof the stem and is provided with an annular flange 30 spaced from theupper end to form an annular seat for a thrust bearing 3|, the bearingbeing retained on the seat by a washer 32 sleeved on the threaded stemand secured by a nut 33 and a cotter pin 34 extending through the nutand. stem as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the compartment l l is closed by a cap 35 that isseated on the boss I2 and has a depending annular flange 36 extendinginto the compartment and into a position to be engaged by the thrustbearing. The spring 19 is coiled about the stem and has its upper endbearing against the flange 30 so as to normally support the thrustbearing in contact with the annular flange 36 when the load carried bythe connection member is relatively light or has been removedfromtheblock. The cap 3,5 isseculted by,

fastening-devices 3:1 and has anreye-38 projectingg therefrom. At timesit may be desirable to lock the bushing from rotation and this isefiected by fixed to a projecting-end of the, shaft ell-as: shown"inFig. 3.

Formed. Within the body'of" the block on; opposite sides ofthecompartmenttl-l arejsheave compartments 45 and 45. that 'open throughthe sides" 5; and 6,.to permit insertion of. sheaves; and 4B. Thesidewalls Band 9 f 'the body-of-theblock are provided concentric withthe axis of. the. upper portion. 3 with openings49and-50'which registerwith smaller openingsl and 5am the. side walls of the tubular partitionlfln The openings 49.. and 59am encircled on the. outersides' ofv thebody. of the block by. annular recesses.5.3 and 54 as shown in Fig. 2for mounting spindles. 5.5; and 56, The spindles 55; and 55 eachinclude. a. stub. shaft. 51 of, a diameter. to snugly engage. inthe ooenin s 5l and 52 and;which.are mounted on p1ates,58 thathaveportions.59 snugly engaged. Within openings. 49; and 51L plates,areanchored in the recesses53 and" 5 bv fastening devices such. as cap.screws 69: Mounted; on. the. stub shafts: areanti friction bearings. 6|;carryingthe hubs 62 of. the. respective. sheaves, as,

The latch 31 has a .1:ounded;. endAZ of the compartments and 45 so thatthe hubs thereof register with the openings 49.

The spindles 55 and 56 carrying the roller bearings are then moved intoposition through the bearings and into the openings 5i and 52. The capscrews 60 are applied to retain the spindles in position. The coverplates 63 and 64 are appliedto complete the assembly.

The block. is used in customary manner by threading the tackle cable 51"through the openings 65 and around the sheaves and the hook 23 isattached to the bail of the apparatus to be handledibvthestaclsle.

When. power is appliedto the cable Gland a loadis depending from thehook 23, the spring l9 yields to reduce shock incidental to suddenapplioationofiapower. If the latch 39 is in position ShQWIl..in Fig. l,the hook and swivel bushing arefree toswivel within the body of theblock to avoid twisting of the cable lines when the load is rotated; forexample, as when unscrewing the joints-of adrillpipet From= theforegoingit is. obvious that I have provided a tack-1e block assembly-including acon- 25 heating-member that isof compact construction;

of streamlined shape, and composed of a comparativelysmallnumberofparts.

What I'claimand desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1i Inadevice of the character described-in eludinga body member having acentral compartment extending through ends of" the body member; aconnecting member, a stem on the connecting member projecting into thecompartment through one end and terminating at the opposite end of='thebody member a swivel bushing for' mounting the-stem slidably inone endof the compartment a springsleeved on the stem and having one endseated. on said bushing, a

spring adjusting member mounted on the stem shown in Fig.1 2.. Thesheavecompartments. 45.

and 4.6. are closed. onthe respective sides 5 and.6. of. theblock. bvplates 53 and. 6.4. secured. in. 13.0-- sition bv su table. fasteningdevices such. as. screws 65.. The cover. plates have open ngs 6.6;therein to facilitatethreadingof the. tackle. cable. 61.- and tofacilitatethreadingthereoiaboutthe.

sheaves;

In assembling. the traveling block: the swivel: bushing; l6 andthrustbearing I] are moved into: the cylindrical compartment Hthroughethe omens upper end thereof. The stem 2240f. the hook-is; thenmoved throughtthe opening zl ofrthe bushing SOi that thethreadediendj-iislocatezr in ,thez.oD- posite end of the cylindrical;chamber and. in: lapping relation with the sheave compartments. Thespring I9- is then passed'into the compart ment' II and over the stem22-;so-thatthe-=endf28 seats upon the swivel'bushing IS: The nut-29isthen passed over the upper end'of the stem and turned to engage thethreads for movingthe flange 39 into contact withthe upper end of thespring, the nut being turned on the-:stem un-tl-lthe stem projects fromtheu-pper-end oi the nut for mounting the retaining nut33.

The thrust bearing 3| is then applied tothe nut followed'by thewasher 32and retaining nut 33. The cap 35 is applied to close the-open-u-pper endof the compartment H and form a stop for the thrust bearing- 31". Thesheaves 41- and- 48 are moved into positionthrough the'open' side'sterminal of said portion of the stem'for forming'ai.

for engaging-the opposite endof said spring, a" thrust-bearing" carriedby said adjusting memher to move with, the stem, and acap closing theother end'of thecompartment and having a stop adapted to seatsaidbearing against action. of.

a disprine,

2...I n. a device of the character described, in-

cluding a body member having a central. comp-- partment extendingthrough ends of the body member, a. connecting. member, a stem on the.connectingmember projecting into the compartment through. one endandterminating at the, opposite end. of. the. body member, a swivel bushingswivelly supported. at said O en end of the compartment and having anaxial bore, said bore.

anda. portionof. the stem. being of a cross sectional shape to. provide.a non-rotativesliding connection between the stem and bushingthroughsaid portion'of the stem a spring sleeved onthestem and havingoneend seated on said: bushing, a spring adjusting member mounted on thestem for engaging the opposite end of said spring; a, thrust bearingcarriedby said adjusting member; and; a; cap closing the other-end, ofthe; compartmentzand having; a stop adapted teen-- gage-andseatsaidbearing against actionof said; spring, said adjusting member-having asleeve portion terminating" at, substantially the; upper stop adapted toengage the swivel; bushing to limit compression of thespring when a.load"v is applied to the connecting member for support by said'device.

3 A device of the character described includ inga body mem-b'er having acentral compartment extending through one end of the body member, aconnecting member, a stem on the non-rotative slidable connectionbetween said 5 stem and bushing a spring sleeved on the stem and havingone end seated within the body member, a spring adjusting member mountedon the stem for engaging the opposite end of said spring, a thrustbearing carried by said adjusting member to move axially in the bodymember'with said stem, and a stop adapted to support said bearingagainst action of said spring in the expanding direction of the spring,said adjusting member having a sleeve portion terminating at saidpolygonal portion of the stem for forming a stop adapted to engage theswivel bushing to limit compression of the spring when a load is appliedto the connecting member for support by said device.

4. A traveling block including a body member having sheave compartmentson opposite sides of an intermediate compartment extending through oneend of the body member with partitions dividing the compartments andcooperating with sides of the body member for forming sides of thesheave compartments, spindles arranged transversely of the sheavecompartments and having support in the sides of the body member and saidpartitions, sheaves rotatable within the sheave compartment on thespindles, a swivel bushing, means rotatably mounting the swivel bushingin the end of the intermediate compartment opposite said sheaves, a capclosing the opposite end of the intermediate compartment and forming astop directly between said sheaves, a stem having non-rotatable slidingsupport in said swivel bushing and terminating between said sheaves atsaid cap, a spring seat on the terminal end of the stem and having anannular shoulder, a thrust bearing carried on said shoulder and adaptedto engage said stop on the cap, and a spring having one end seated onthe swivel bushing and its other end engaging the spring seat tonormally retain the thrust bearing in contact with said stop.

5. A traveling block including a body member having sheave compartmentson opposite sides of an intermediate compartment extending through oneend of the body member with partitions dividing the compartments andcooperating with sides of the body member to form sides of the sheavecompartments, spindles arranged transversely of the sheave compartments,sheaves rotatable within the sheave compartments on the spindles, aswivel bushing, means rotatably mounting the swivel bushing in the endof the intermediate compartment opposite said sheaves, a cap closing theopposite end of the intermediate compartment and forming astop directlybetween said sheaves, a stem having non-rotatable sliding support insaid bushing and terminating between said sheaves at said cap, a springseat on the terminal end of the stem and having an annular shoulder, athrust bearing fixed to said shoulder and adapted to engage said stop onthe cap, a spring having one end seated on the swivel bushing and itsother end engaging the spring seat to normally retain the thrust bearingin contact with said stop, and a thrust hearing be- 6. tween the bushingsleeve and body member to cooperate with the thrust bearing on thespring seat for limiting expansion of said spring.

6. In a traveling block, a body member having sheave compartments onopposite sides of an intermediate compartment with partitions separatingsaid compartments and cooperating with sides of the body member to formsides of the sheave compartments, said body member having recesses inthe outer faces of said sides of the body member and having openings inthe bottoms of said recesses registering coaxially with open ings in thepartitions, individual spindles extending through said openings,plate-like heads on the spindles and located in the recesses, andfastening devices for removably securing said heads to the body member.

'7. In a traveling block, a body member having sheave compartments onopposite sides of an intermediate compartment with partitions separatingsaid compartments and cooperating with sides of the body member to formsides of the sheave compartments, said body member having recesses inouter faces of said sides of the body member and having openings in thebottoms of said recess registering coaxially with openings in thepartitions, individual spindles extending through said openings,plate-like heads on the spindles and. located in the recesses, fasteningdevices for removably securing said heads to the body member, sheavesrotatable on said spindles, said body member having sheave insertopenings intermediate said sides or the sheave compartments forinsertion of the sheaves, and plates for closing said insert openings.

8. A traveling block including, a body member having sheave compartmentson opposite sides of an intermediate compartment extending through oneend of the body member with partitions dividing the compartments andcooperatin with sides of the body member for forming sides of the sheavecompartments, spindles arranged transversely of the sheave compartmentsand having support in the sides of the body member and said partitions,sheaves rotatable within the sheave compartment on the spindles, aswivel bushing, means rotatably mounting the swivel bushing in the endof the intermediate compartment opposite said sheaves, a stem havingnon-rotatable sliding support in said swivel bushing and terminatingbetween said sheaves, a spring seat on the terminal end of the stem andhaving an annular shoulder, a thrust bearing carried on said shoulderand adapted to engage a part on said body member, and a spring havingone end seated on the swivel bushing and its other end engaging thespring seat to normally retain the thrust bearing in contact with saidpart.

BYRON C. CHRISTENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 1 file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

